Politics
INEC Dismisses Calls for Chairman’s Removal
…….Defends Compliance with Court of Appeal Judgment on ADC Crisis
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly rejected calls for the removal of its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, describing them as a distraction and an assault on the commission’s constitutional independence.
In a strongly worded press release issued on Wednesday, INEC clarified that the Chairman’s appointment, tenure, and removal are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and not subject to the whims of any political party or interest group.
The commission’s reaction follows public statements by some political actors accusing INEC of partisan bias over its decision to comply with a recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC explained that it chose to obey the appellate court’s ruling to avoid a repeat of the situations in Zamfara and Plateau states, where elected officials were removed by election tribunals due to disobedience of court judgments.
The commission further stated that proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC faction would have amounted to disobeying a preservative order of the Federal High Court, which restrained INEC from taking any steps that could render pending processes nugatory. The matter, according to INEC, is currently before the court for accelerated hearing.
“Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution mandates every person and authority in Nigeria to obey and enforce judgments of the Court of Appeal,” the release emphasised.
INEC also addressed allegations of undermining the multi-party system, pointing out that under Professor Amupitan’s leadership, it has registered and recognised three new political parties — the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and National Democratic Party (NDP) — bringing the total number of active political parties in Nigeria to 22.
The commission described this as “an empirical rebuttal to any claim of a one-party agenda,” insisting it remains a neutral regulator rather than a participant in political competition.
On updates to party leadership records, INEC said its actions are guided solely by subsisting court orders and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, and it would not allow itself to be drawn into internal party conflicts.
Voter Revalidation Exercise Not Politically Motivated
INEC also moved to dispel what it called misconceptions surrounding the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
The commission clarified that the decision to revalidate the voters’ register predates the appointment of Professor Amupitan and is a professional necessity aimed at sanitising the National Register of Voters, which currently contains data from 2011 to 2024.
The exercise, which is not a fresh registration but an administrative audit, seeks to address issues such as transfers, multiple registrations, and deceased persons. It will be conducted in phases across all local government areas and polling units, with digital options for ease of access.
INEC stressed that the revalidation is uniform and transparent, and “not targeted at any region, party, or demographic.”
Focus on Upcoming Off-Cycle Elections
The electoral body said it remains focused on conducting credible off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State in June 2026 and Osun State in August 2026, and would not be distracted by unfounded allegations of bias or collusion.
“Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people,” the statement declared.
INEC reiterated its commitment to free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, describing calls for Professor Amupitan’s resignation as misplaced.
The press release was e-signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) today, Friday, October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The seven-day exercise, which runs until October 15, will take place simultaneously across registration areas and wards in all states. It allows registered voters to verify their details on the register, raise claims or objections, and collect PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted between August and December 2025. Collection hours are from 9am to 3pm daily, including weekends.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, confirmed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters now stands at over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase CVR exercise and a final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup. The exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.
Phase 1 PVCs have already been processed and distributed to local government collection centres. After the seven-day ward-level exercise, further collection will continue at INEC Local Government Area offices. The commission stressed that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy, in line with the Electoral Act.
The display of the preliminary register is required under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to exhibit the voter register not less than 90 days before the general elections.
Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
INEC has urged eligible voters to check their status online via its voter verification portal and to collect their cards promptly to avoid disenfranchisement.
The Igueben Local Government Chairman allegedly led a team of gun-toting assailants in an attack on the entourage of Kenneth Imasuangbon and Edo Central ADC Senatorial candidate Hon. Herbeta Okonofua on Tuesday.
According to a statement by ADC State Publicity Secretary Chris Ojeikere, the attackers opened fire at the premises of the Enogie of Igueben, fatally shooting Jerry Oliha, a young man from ADC Ward 6. Oliha was rushed to Irrua Specialist Hospital, where doctors are fighting to save his life.
Jerry Oliha ward six Ebelle I given local government area. He’s a widower with five children
The shooting marks the third attack on the same entourage in a single day. Earlier incidents were reported at Ward 4 and Ward 5 of the local government area.
Ojeikere described the assault as the climax of a series of violent attacks on ADC members and infrastructure, linking them to threats allegedly made by Jarrett Tenebe.
Similar coordinated attacks, he said, had earlier been reported in Etsako East, Owan West, and Owan East, each purportedly directed by the respective local government chairmen.
Bullet casings recovered from the scene have been handed over to the police and the Enogie. Canopies, chairs, and musical instruments valued at millions of naira were destroyed at the palace premises.
The Divisional Police Officer of Igueben Local Government Area has been informed and is involved in the investigation. ADC said it would release a comprehensive report on the incidents shortly.
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike,says that he thinks about President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in January 2027 every time he sleeps.
Wike shared his emotions during a town hall meetings with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the president’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s re-election,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor said he was committed to ensuring Tinubu secured a second term in office and urged residents of the state to vote massively for the president in the 2027 election.
“Let us forget sentiment and vote for the person who has recognised the people of Rivers State with dividends of democracy and with several appointments.
“I know the re-election of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure he gets a massive number of votes. We can do it.” Said Wike.
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